keller



Patented Mar. 8, 1932 UNITED STATES PETER C. KELLER, OF HOMEWOOD, ILLINOIS COMB FRAME HANDLER Application filed May 9, 1929. Serial No. 361,681.

My invention relates to devices for lifting combframes used in beehives, etc.

The invention has for its main object to provide a device which secures a firm grip upon the comb frame and retains the latter from falling.

A further Object of the invention is to provide means whereby the grip applied to the frame is locked to maintain its engaged position until released.

A still further object of the invention is to so design the locking device for the appliance that it cannot of itself become released, but requires the efforts of the attendant for that purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide the novel appliance with guard stops 7 to prevent the crushing of bees as the applianceis set in place for the engagement of the frame.

A significant object of the invention is to mount the same with a single handle for both the holding and the operation thereof, such handle facilitating the turning of the frame as well as the lifting thereof.

An additional object of the invention is to render the grip of the device firm yet devoid of cutting or impressing influences, leaving the frame normal and unmarred.

A final but nevertheless important object of the invention is to construct the novel appliance with few and simple parts of sturdy design for efficient operation and durability.

With the above objects in view and any others that may suggest themselves from the specification and claims to follow, a better understanding of the invention may begained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an elevation of the novel appliance in the act of gripping the top piece of a conventional comb frame, parts being shown in section; Y

Fig. 2'is a view similar to Figure 1, partly broken away, showing the appliance in disengaged position; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The general configuration of the novel ap- I pliance is suggestive of the typical monkeywrench, the forward portion of the appliance having a set of jaws 5 and 6 and the rear portion thereof being in the form of a round handle 7 whereby to provide terminal bearings for the free rotation of the stem. The jaw 5 is a stationary one and is mounted with cross flanges 8 and 9 upon a round stem 10 extending from the handle 7 Beyond the flange 8, the stem receives a washer 11 and a cotter pin 12 to maintain the engagement of the jaw with the stem.

The flange 8 is formedv with a forwardly directed base 8a, which is riveted at 8?) or otherwise rigidly secured to the aw 5 and the base 8a is extended with a cross head 13 in parallelism to the flange 8, the cross head terminating in a set of hinge ears 14 in spaced relation. The jaw 6 is generally of the same design as the jaw 5 and is rockably disposed with relation to the latter by being made with an inward hinge ear 14a, disposed between the hinge ears 14 and receiving a common pintle 15. The hinge ear 14a is slotted as indicated at 14?) to receive one end of an L- shaped tension spring 16, the foot of the latter being riveted to the base 8a as indicated at 16a. The function of the spring 16 is to exert forward tension upon the hinge 14a whereby to keep the front ends of the jaws open under normal conditions.

The. rear portion of the jaw 6 is formed with a bend 6a directed toward the other jaw and cut with a slot 6?) to clear and receive the guidance of the handle stem 10. Also, the closing of the jaws is limited by the length of the bend 6a. The front ends of the jaws are formed with inwardly directed lips 17, which taper to an edge. Also, the cross head 13 is formed with spaced andforwardly directed studs 18.

The handle stem 10 receives a U-shaped lug 19 in proximity to the flange 8, this lug being riveted at 19a, as shown or made integral with the stem. When the jaws are in the normal or separated positions, the lug 19 finds a rest between a stud 20 of the flange 8 and the jaw 6, having a limited amount of play between these parts. However, when the handle 7 is given a twist in a direction remote from the stud 20, the lug 19which is round-nosedwill impinge upon the rear or tail portion of the jaw 6 with the effect of separating such portion from the jaw 5 and thus compressing the forward portion of the said jaw toward the jaw 5. The prominence of the lug 19 causes it to exert friction against the movable jaw-6 astthe maximum radial 'height of the lug affects the latter by the turning effect of the handle; and shortly lustrated, whereby to grip atypical top piece 22 of a comb frame 23, it will be seen that a firm grip may be exerted upon the said top piece by the operation described, and the release ofthe same effected-by the reverse control of the handle. In advancing" the appliance upon the top piece 22, its cross head 13 stops in spaced relationto'the cross piece by the interposed presence of'the studs 18, so

' that whatever .be'es m'ay be lingering upon the cross piece at the particular site will not be crushed by the full advance of the cross head 13. Also, the spacing of the tool jaws when open is just sufficient'to comfortably clear the sides of the/top piece, so that accumulations of wax 'on'such'sides will yield to the advance of the-tool and become removed by the single movement of its application. 3 K 1 7 Itfwill be apparent that inthe use of the novel appliance that but one hand need be employed, that is, to hold the handle 7. After the jaws have been applied to the top piece of the frame, aright-han'd'twist of the handle securely grips the frame and locks the jaws asprevio'usly described, afterwhichit is an easy matter to liftthe frame out bythe use of thesame hand. Further, once the frame has been liftedout of the set, it may be swung inlone or the other direction for inspection without danger of'loosening from theliftingappliance, since the latter is very firmly locked to the frame. Thus, the use of the appliance does not entail specialmanipulation or attention, since the only efforts nec- *es'sary' are those of engaging the frame and twisting the handle of the appliance, forthe latter is virtually as one with the frame until laid inplace and ready to be disengaged.

'ln'conclus'ion, it may be said that' the novel "appliance is built very strongly, its material being steel or othersuitable nietal,-except for the handle which is preferably ofwood; The "actions involved in the appliance are of a very simple nature and the latt r may-be u'sed for long periods without any repairor .particular attention- I claim l 1. A comb frame handler comprising a handle,a stationary jaw carried by the same, a companion jaw pivotable toward and from the stationary jaw, and means to operate the pivotable jaw by twisting the handle.

2. A comb frame handler. comprising a handle, a stationary jaw carried by the same, a companion jaw movable toward and from the stationary jaw, and cam means impressed upon the movable jaw by a twisting movement of the handle to bring such movable jaw toward the stationary jaw.

U 3, Acomb frame handler comprising a handle, a stationary jaw carried by the same, a stem extended ffromth'e handle alongside the jaw, a bearing from the latter for the remote portion. of the stem to permit a twisting'mo'tion of the stem relative to the jaw, a movable jaw opposite the latter, and means carried by the stem and efiective byia twist of the handle to close the movable jaw toward the stationary one.

it. A comb. frame handler comprising a handle, a stationary j aw carried by the same, a stem extend-ed from the handle alongside the jaw, a bearingfrom the latter for the remote portion of the stem to permit a twisting motion of the stem relative to the jaw, a movable jaw pivoted relative to the latter, and means carried by the stem-and eflective byv a twist of the handle to swing the movable jaw toward the stationary one; 8

5. A comb frame handler comprising a handle, a stationary jaw carried by the same, a pivotbearing extended laterally from the jaw, a companion aw pivotally mounted in said bearing, a stem extended'from the handle between the jaws terminating between said handle and thepivot point of said companion jaw, and means carried .by therstem to crowd the adjacent portion ofthe companion j aw. outwardly by atwist ofthe handle with the elfect of swinging the remote portion of the companion jaw tov close toward the stationary jaw. 6. The structure of claim 5,- said means comprising a radial cam lug carried by the stem. 7. The structure of claim 5, in which said means comprises a radial cam lug carried by the stem and a stop carried by said adjacent portion of the companion jaw to receive the cam lug beyond the highest,pressurepoint and lock the companion jaw in closing position.

8. The structure of claim 5, in which said -mem'ber carried by the stationary jaw and having one arm serve as a bearing for the stem,the other arm of the U-m'ember embodying a hinge, a companionjaw pivoted on the 1 latter, and means to operate the companion jaw relative to the stationary jaw.

10. The structure of claim 9, and a spring within the U-member urging the companion jaw to maintain a normally spread position from the stationary jaw.

11. A comb frame handler comprising a handle, a stem extended from the latter, a stationary jaw carried by the stem, a companion aw movable to and from the stationary jaw, and a slotted extension of the movable jaw receiving the stem as a stop to limit the movement of the movable jaw.

12. A comb frame handler comprising a handle, a stem extended from the latter, a member laterally of the stem and extended with branches j ournaling the end portions of the stem, a stationary jaw extended from said member, a movable jaw carried by the outer one of said branches, and means actuated by the motion of the stem in said branches to operate the movable jaw.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PETER C. KELLER. 

